Written by Nicole Nidea, Program Manager
On the evening of August 16, 2021, we celebrated Alexandra Caldwell (North Carolina A&T State University), Love Joy Dadulo Richards (University of the Virgin Islands), Kyla Duke (Howard University), Ethan Harvey (Bluefield State College), Jerome Whitaker (Albany State University), and Whitney Willis (North Carolina A&T State University) as the winners of the HBCU Organ and Tissue Donation Advocacy Scholarship at the virtual Awards Ceremony.
Left to right, top to bottom: Alexandra Caldwell, Love Joy Dadulo Richards, Kyla Duke, Ethan Harvey, Jerome Whitaker, Whitney Willis
The night began with a few words from Sara Miller, SODA's President and Founder; Stephanie Jackson, SODA's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Consultant; and Edward Drake II, Founder and CEO of the YNOTT? Foundation. Then, each student had the opportunity to share the essay they submitted along with their application.
Check out the recording of the ceremony here!
Along with our partners (Hearts for Emma, Hearts for Russ, the Laura Miller Memorial Fund, Richie's Spirit Foundation, and the YNOTT? Foundation), we are proud to recognize these students and their interest in organ and tissue donation.
Celebrating students at Historically Black Colleges and Universities who are passionate about making a difference and encouraging their peers and family to register as organ and tissue donors is important to all of us because of the gap between the number of African Americans on the transplant list and the number of organ and tissue donors who are African American. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 29% of the transplant waiting list is African American, but only 13% of organ donors are African American.
Learn more about our HBCU outreach here.
Congratulations, Alexandra, Love Joy, Kyla, Ethan, Jerome, and Whitney!
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